Lawn sweeper



Oct. 6, 1953 PARKERI' 2,654,106

LAWN SWEEPE'R Filed April 24, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmvrox. EDWIN D. PARKER HIS ATT ORNEY Oct. 6, 1953 E. D. PARKER 2,654,105

' LAWN SWEEPER Filed April 24, 1947 35 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. YEDWIN D. PARKER. B

W W/A 5M HIS ATTORNEY E- D. PARKER Oct. 6, '1953 LAWN SWEEPER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 24, 1947 INVENTOR. EDWIN D. PARKER H Hlillll ll I HIS ATTOJIMEY Oct. 6, 1953 D, PARK R 2,654,106

LAWN SWEEPER Filed April 24, 1947 i 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 c.5 23 ------;1--T;K

IN VEN TOR.

EDWIN D. PARKER F151 7 BY H15 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1953 LAWN- SWEEPEK Edwin D. Parken s'pringfield, Ohio, assignor. to Parker Sweeper Company, a. corporation of Ohio Application'April 24; 1947, Serial No. 743,629

6. Claims.

Thepresent invention-relates to sweepers and moreparticularly to sweepers of the-type employ-- ing a rotating brush, which brush in-addition to sweeping, flingsthedebrisinto a receiver such as abasket.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide asweeper inwhich the sweeper frame, which supports the-rotatablesweeping brush, is pivotally mounted so that the brush'can be raised andlowered, and in whichthehandle for manipulating the sweeper is connected in such mannerthat the operator while manipulating the sweeper mayraise andlower the handle to raise and lower thebrush w threspect to the surface being cleaned.

Another object of the present invention is to provid for adjustablyconnecting the sweeper manipulating handle and theframeso that the brush height can be'adjusted with respect to the surface being cleaned while theheight or angle of the handle is not disturbed;

Another object of the-inventionisto provide a sweeper, which, inaddition-to the oppositely disposed supporting' wheels for the sweeper frame, isprovided with another'surface contacting support in the form of a roller or" rollers and. in which'the-sweeper manipulating handle andthe brush supporting frame are adjustably connected. with oneanother-so-that the" brush height can be adj usted with respect toth'e' surface being cleaned while the heightorangle of the handle is not disturbed and further to provide for. lowering the brush-during the sweeping operation by the operatorlowering the handle.

In carrying out the foregoingobjects, it" isa further object of the inventionto provide for, the. loweringof the handle-under yieldingr'esistance so that the handle canbe returned to its normal position after the operator ceases to force the, handle downwardly.

There is still afurther object' of'the invention to utilize a spring for yieldingly forcing'the'handle upwardly and to limit the extent .of such upward movement by the spring so that'the handle may be yieldingly moved downwardly by the operator from itshormal'position and returned to its normal position when the operator ceases to force the handle downwardly-.-

Another; object of the invention is" to support a receiver'or basket frame on the vehicle and inter pose the! handle lifting 'spring between-theframe and the :handle andto provide a'flex-ible tie element .betweenthe frame and the handle-so as to" limit the upward 'movementof the handle by the spring.-

In carrying out the last mentioned obl'ect,.it is another object of the invention to utilize the receiver-0r basket, carried by the basket supporting frame, as the flexible tie element.

Further objects and advantages of the Present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being bad to-the accompanying drawings wherein preferred forms of. embodiments of the invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig; 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of'the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the fragmentary top view of the sweeperwith the debris directing hood removed; Fig; 3 is a fragmentar side view partially in:

section and partially in'elevation, the sectionbeing taken on line 3-3 of Fig; 2;

Fig; 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 44"of'Fig. 2; a

Fig; 5' is a side view of another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. dis a view in perspective of the removabledebris receiver or basket;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation show-- ing the holding means provided for supporting the upper part of the basket on'the' handle rof the sweeper. I V

Referring to the drawings, the sweeper 20 comprises a sweeper head includinga frame H whichis provided witha plurality of supports. InFig. 1' these supports are shown as front wheels 23 and- 2'4; frame 25, which is adjustably'attached to the sweeper frame 2| at the front thereof; and'the rollers 26 on which the rear end thereof'is supported, The frame 25, which forms a debris receptacle, is pivotally mounted to the framed! by means of the tubing members 'and 86- being p voted on the bolts as isb'est seen in Figs. 3-

and'4.

' The sweeper may be driven in any suitable manner butis herein shown as being manually operated through a handle 30; This handle includes side bars 3| -and 32 andeach is connected.

frame 25, a bottom wall 36,,side walls 31 and 38; and a rear wall 39. The side walls 3l'andl38' are formed offlexible material such as canvas and the top edge thereof conforms generally to the angle of the'handle'bars 3| and32. top edges are provided with a loop through which These the bars 3| and 32 extend. The rear wall 39 is also formed of flexible material such as canvas and the upper edge thereof is also in the form of a loop for receiving a rod 4| which is suitably attached to bars 3| and 32. Springs in the form of bars 43 are interposed between the frame 25 and the bar 4| and yieldingly urge the handle to its uppermost position, which uppermost position is determined by the back wall 39 of the basket 35.

As will appear more clearly hereinafter, as the sweeper is moved across the surface to be cleaned, the debris is swept off of the surface and will be thrown rearwardly against the back wall of the basket 35. When it is desirable to lower the brush as, for example, when the sweeper is being moved across a declivity in the surface being cleaned, it is only necessary for the operator to force downwardly upon the handle which will lower the brush. The downward movement of the handle is yieldingly resisted by the springs 43. As the downward force on the handle is released, the springs 43 will again return the handle to normal position, the rear wall 39 of the basket 35 limiting the extent of upward movement of the handle by the springs 43.

Referring more in detail to Figs. 2 and 3, the sweeper frame 2| comprises two side plates 45, preferably formed of aluminum castings 46 and 41 which are connected with one another by bars 49 and 50. These bars are locked in position by set screws Each of the side plates is provided with an axle 53 which extends through the same and the outer part of the axle carries the wheel 23 or 24 and each carries a gear 54 secured to rotate with the wheel, the gear 54 being housed between the outer side wall of the side plate 45 and the wheel. The side plates each have an outwardly extending peripheral portion 56, and are also provided with a rearwardly extending housing portion 58 for a pinion 59 which meshes with the gear 54. The pinions '59 are mounted in suitable bearings formed in the side plates 45 and drive a shaft 6| of a reel 62, Fig. 3.

Several space brackets 64 are carried on the shaft 6| and each of these brackets is provided with a series of recesses 65 which receive the brush holders 66 carrying the brushes 68. Strips of metal are wound around the brush holders 66 and each end of the strip is provided with a hole for receiving a screw H which is screwed into the shaft 6|. When the screw H is drawn down tightly, the band will hold the brush holders 66 in position and cause the brushes to be rotated with the shaft.

When the wheels 23 and 24 are moved forwardly, the reel 62 is driven in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, through the gears 54 and pinions 59. If desirable an overrunning clutch may be interposed between each pinion 59 and the shaft 6| so that the reel is operated only when the wheels are moved forwardly.

Each of the side plates 45 is provided with an inwardly extending ledge having lugs 16 formed therein. An arcuate shaped hood 1! is carried by the ledges l5 and is held in place by screws 18 which extend into the lugs 1'6. The hood 11, including a lower extendable and adjustable portion 80 is formed of sheet metal, the extension 83 being connected to the hood portion 11 by bolts 8| and wing nuts 82. The extension 80 is also provided with vertically extending slots (not shown) by which the extension 80 may be adjustably secured at variable heights.

As the sweeper is moved over the surface to be cleaned, the brushes 68 will engage the debris and sweep the same forwardly against the hood, the debris following the arcuate shape of the hood 1! is expelled with considerable force rearwardly and thrown against the back wall 39 of the basket 35. The structure herein shown is particularly suitable as a lawn sweeper for gathering grass clippings and leaves and in actual practice it has been found that a partial vacuum is created adjacent to the bottom rear of the hood ll whereby clippings and leaves are drawn upwardly although below the contacting surface of the ends of the brushes 68.

The frame 25 includes the sheet metal bottom 36 of the basket 35 and two pieces of side tubing 85 and 86 secured as by screws 81 to the side edges of the bottom 36. By referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that these tubings are bent inwardly as at 88 and the forward ends thereof are flattened as at 89 and lie along the outer side of the side plates 45. These flattened portions are drilled to form an opening 9|, Fig. 4, to receive the shank portion 92 of a hollow spacer 93. These spacers 93 are secured respectively to the end plates 45 by bolts 95 and nuts 96, there being a washer 91 interposed between the outer end of each spacer 93 and the inner end of the nut 96 and the length of the shank portion 92 is slightly greater than the width of the flattened portion 89 whereby the parts 89 pivot about shank portion 92.

From Fig. 2 it will also be seen that the handle bars 3| and 32 are both bent inwardly adjacent to the lower end thereof as shown at 99 and merge into a flattened portion Hill. The extreme lower end of each of these flattened portions I00 is bifurcated as shown at |0|, Fig. 3. and straddles the inwardly extending axles 53. A noncircular hole, preferably a square hole I02, Fig. 4, is formed at each of the flattened portions for receiving the square shank portion I03 of the bolt 95. The shank of the bolt passes through the hole I02 in the flattened portion of a handle bar, through the side plate, and through the spacer 93. When the nut 96 is drawn tightly, the lower end of the handle bar is tightly clamped against the inside of the side plate.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the frame 2| is pivoted about the axles 53 and that the brush reel 62 can be lowered while the sweeper is in operation by merely pushing downwardly on the handle 30. When the handle 30 is pushed downwardly, it will pivot about the axle 53 and since the frame 2| is connected through the side plates 45 with the handle, the rear end of the frame including the brush reel 62 will be moved downwardly. In this manner the operator can cause the brushes to pick up leaves or debris wh1ch are lying in small gulleys or depressions in the lawn or other surface being cleaned. As previously pointed out, as soon as the downward pressure on the handle is released by the operator, the springs 43 will return the handle to its uppermost position.

At times it is desirable that the brush be maintained normally at higher or lower levels. This is readily accomplished by loosening the hand wheel nuts 96 and then raising or lowering the rear end of the frame 2| and for this purpose an arcuate shaped slot I05, Fig. 3, is formed in each of the end plates 45 through which the bolt 95 extends. When the brush is adjusted to its desired height, the nuts 96 are again tightened.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7,

it is not necessary to upset the sweeper in order to empty the basket. In this embodiment, the basket comprises a removable unit I35, the side walls, similar to side walls 37 and 38, and the metallic bottom wall 36 are retained, however, the rear wall 39 is omitted. Also, in this embodi-r ment the side walls limit the upper movement of the handle by the springs 43. The basket I35 is formed with a bottom 136, a back I39, and side walls I31 and I38. All of these walls are formed. of durable flexible material such as heavy canvas. The forward portion I40 of the canvas bottom I36 is disposed at an angle to correspond to the upwardly forwardly extending portion of-the bottom 36 and the tubes 85 and 86. The extreme forward end of the bottom I36 is provided with a loop I4I which receives a stiffening bar I43. A hook I44 is carried on the stiffening bar and is arranged to loop over the brace rod 50 of the sweeper frame 2|.

A bracket I46 is clamped to each of the handle bars 31 and 32 by a clamping bolt I41. The rear end of each of these brackets I46 forms a hook I43 below the bars 3| and 32. The extreme upper end of the back I39 of the basket I35 is formed with a loop I50 which receives a rod I5l. The end of the rod I5I extends beyond the side walls I31 and I33 of the basket and is arran ed to be received by the hooks I48 of the brackets I46. The basket I35 is moved into position from the rear between the side walls 31 and 38, the hook I44 is then hooked over the brace rod 50 and then the ends of the rod I5I are placed within the hooks I48. To empty the basket, it is necessary only to unhook the hook I44 and then the entire basket can Ice-removed by pulling the same rearwardly.

While the forms of embodi'mentsof the present invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms,- it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A sweeper comprising in combination, a sweeper head, said head including. a frame and supporting mechanism for the frame including a pair of wheels on opposite sides of the frame and axle means for supporting the wheels in axial alignment, said frame being journaled on r the axle means, said head including a rotatable brush support-ed by the frame on an axis parallel with and horizontally displaced with respect to the axis of the axle means, gearing between the wheels and brush; a second supporting mechanism for the frame having a portion adapted to ride entire surface being swept, one of said supporting mechanisms being arranged forwardly of the other; a rearwardly and upwardly extending handle for the head; a pivotal connection for the handle, said pivotal connection being on an axis coinciding with the axis of the axle means, said frame having an arcuate slot, the axis of the arc of the slot coinciding with the axis of the axle means; a bolt extending through one end of the second supporting mechanism, the

slot and a portion of the handle spaced from said pivotal connection of the handle for connecting the second supporting mechanism with the handle and for attaching the handle and frame to one another, a member for resisting pivoting of the second supporting mechanism, about said bolt, in a direction of pivoting wherein the handle would be lowered relative to the surface being swept when the second supporting 6 mechanism is in a. normm supporting position: and stop means for preventing pivoting of the second supporting mechanism, about said bolt, from a normal supporting position in the direction of pivoting opposite to said first mentioned direction.

2. A sweeper comprising in combination, a sweeper head, said head including a frame and supporting mechanism for the frame including a pair of wheels on opposite sides of the frame and axle means for supporting the wheels in axial alignment, said frame being journaled on the axle means, said head including a rotatable brush supported by the frame on an axis parallel with and horizontally displaced with respect to the axis of the axle means, gearing between the wheels and brush; a second supporting mechanism for the frame having a portion adapted to ride on the surface being swept, said second sup porting mechanism being disposed rearwardly'of the wheels; a rearwardly and upwardly extending handle for the head; apivotalconnection for the handle, said pivotal connection being on an axis coinciding with the axis'of the axle means, said frame having an arcuate slot, the axisof the arc of the slot coinciding with the axis of the axle means; and a bolt extending through one end of the second supporting mechanism, the slot and a portion of the handle spaced rear wardly and upwardly from said pivotal connection for connecting the second supporting mechanism with the handle and for attaching the handle and frame to one another; a member for resisting pivoting of the second supporting mechanism, about said bolt, in a direction of pivoting wherein the handle would be lowered relative to the surface being swept when the second supporting mechanism is in a normal supporting position and stop means for prevent'in'g pivoting of the second supporting mechanism, about said bolt, from a normal supporting position in the direction of pivoting opposite to said first mentioned direction.

3. A sweeper comprising in combination, a

sweeper head, said head including a frame and supporting mechanism for the frame including a pair of wheels on opposite sides of the frame and axle means for supporting the wheels "in axial alignment, said frame being journaled on the axle means, said frame having an areuate slot with the axis of the arc oftheslot coinciding with the axis of the axle means, said head including a rotatable brush suppor ted'by the frame on an axis parallel with and horirontally dis placed with respect to the axis of "the axle means, gearing between the wheels and brush; a second supporting mechanism for the frame having a portion adapted to ride on the surface being swept, one of said supporting mechanisms "being, arranged forwardly of the other; a rearwa-rdly and upwardly extending handle for the head; a pivotal connection for the handle, said pivotal connection being 'on an axis coinciding with the axis of the axle means; and a bolt extending through one end of the second supporting mechanism, the slot and a portion of the handle spaced from said pivotal connection of the handle for connecting the second supporting mechanism with the handle and for attaching the handle and frame to one another, a member for resisting pivoting of the second supporting mechanism, about said bolt, in a direction of pivoting wherein the handle would be lowered relative to the surface being swept when the second supporting 7 mechanism is in a normal supporting position; and stop means for preventing pivoting of the second supporting mechanism, about said bolt, from a normal supporting position in the direction of pivoting opposite to said first mentioned direction.

4. A sweeper comprising in combination, a sweeper head, said head including a frame and supporting mechanism for the frame including a pair of wheels on opposite sides of the frame and axle means for supporting the wheels in axial alignment, said frame being journaled on the axle means, said frame havnig an arcuate slot with the axis of the arc of the slot coinciding with the axis of the axle means, said head including a rotatable brush supported by the frame on an axis parallel with and horizontally displaced with respect to the axis of the axle means, gearing between the wheels and brush; a second supporting mechanism for the frame having a portion adapted to ride on the surface being swept, said second supporting mechanism being disposed rearwardly of the wheels; a rearwardly and upwardly extending handle for the head; a pivotal connection for the lower end of the handle, said pivotal connection being on an axis coinciding with the axis of the axle means; and a bolt extending through the second supporting mechanism, the slot and a portion of the handle spaced rearwardly and upwardly from said end for connecting the second supporting mechanism with the handle and for attaching the handle and frame to one another; a member for resisting pivoting of the second supporting mechanism, about said bolt, in a direction of pivoting wherein the handle would be lowered relative to the surface being swept when the second supporting mechanism is in a normal supporting position; and stop means for preventing pivoting I of the second supporting mechanism, about said bolt, from a normal supporting position in the direction of pivoting opposite to said first mentioned direction.

5. A sweeper comprising in combination, a sweeper head, said head including a frame and supporting mechanism for the frame including a pair of wheels on opposite sides of the frame and axle means for supporting the wheels in axial alignment, said frame being journaled on the axle means, said head including a rotatable brush supported by the frame on an axis parallel with and horizontally displaced with respect to the axis of the axle means, gearing between the wheels and brush; a second supporting mechanism for the frame having a portion adapted to ride on the surface being swept, said second supporting mechanism being disposed rearwardly of the wheels; a rearwardly and upwardly extending handle having the lower end thereof connected with the head for moving the head about the axle means, said handle extending above the second supporting mechanism, spring means interposed between the handle and the second supporting mechanism for normally urging the handle upwardly; walls cooperating with the frame to form a debris receptacle, certain of said walls being flexible and extending upwardly, at least one of said walls being connected with the handle for limiting the extent of upward movement of the handle by the spring means; and means pivotally connecting the forward end of the second supporting mechanism with the frame.

6. A sweeper comprising in combination, a sweeper head, said head including a frame and supporting mechanism for the frame including a pair of wheels on opposite sides of the frame and axle means for supporting the wheels in axial alignment, said frame being journaled on the axle means, said head including a rotatable brush supported by the frame on an axis parallel with and horizontally displaced with respect to the axis of the axle means, gearing between the wheels and brush; a second supporting mechanism for the frame having a portion adapted to ride on the surface being swept, said second supporting mechanism being disposed rearwardly of the wheels; a rearwardly and upwardly extending handle for the head; a horizontal pivotal connection between the lower end of the handle and the head, said pivotal connection being on an axis coinciding with the axis of the axle means, said frame having an arcuate slot, the axis of the arc of the slot coinciding with the axis of the axle means; said handle extending above the second supporting mechanism, spring means interposed between the handle and the second supporting mechanism for normally urging the handle upwardly; means for limiting the extent of upward movement of the handle by the spring means; and a bolt extending through the forward end of the second supporting mechanism, the slot and a portion of the handle spaced rearwardly and upwardly from said end of the handle for pivotally connecting the forward end of the second supporting mechanism with the frame and handle and for attaching the handle and frame to one another.

EDWIN D. PARKER.

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